Metal working



Oct. 3l, 1967 c. L. SPORCK v 3,349,594 METAL WORKING O riginal Filed May2, 1963 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR.

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. .A 7'TORNEY5 Oct. 31, 1967 c. l.. sPoRcK 3,349,594

METAL WORKING Original Filed May 2, 1963 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 ATTCIK'NEYS Yw 9 9 9 7 5 WJ .o .7 i n IIIUI :MWHI

7 3 m 00, a@ .f 6 fw M f r /na z l 02 f |i/|1 l l l 7 l 3 J.. 7 0 4- l ll .I 'III 7 1| 0 N /mw :M l 7 7 0 United States Patent O 3,349,594 METALWORKING Claus L. Sporck, Traverse City, Mich., assignor to The Lodge SzShipley Company, Cincinnati, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Originalapplication May 2, 1963, Ser. No. 277,623, now Patent No. 3,191,415,dated June 29, 1965. Divided andf this application June 23, 1965, Ser.No. 466,330

' 6 Claims. (Cl. 72-78) This application is a division of my copendingapplication Ser. No. 277,623, tiled May 2, 1963, now Patent No.3,191,415.

This invention relates to improvements in tube forming machines of thetype wherein the forming tool or roller means is of ring-like shape andsurrounds the blank so that the working section of the roller engagesthe blank in a line of contact concave with respect to the blank axis.

One object of the invention is to provide a machine of the kinddescribed having improved roller means comprising a pair of concaveannular working sections which surround the blank land simultaneouslyengage the outside of the blank respectively on opposite sides of theblank axis.

One particularly important advantage of the invention is that the rollermeans is arranged to work the blank without imposing unbalanced radialloads. For this purpose, the invention contemplates roller meanscomprising a pair of rings surrounding the blank with the workingsections of the rings operating on diametrically opposed are'as of theblank. In this way the working forces of the roller rings counterbalanceone another.

Another important and desirable advantage of the invention is that asingle ring roller can perform a dual working operation, for example, adouble reduction of the blank wall in a single pass. In this regard theinvention contemplates the roller means to be comprised of a single ringhaving a pair of annular working sections which simultaneously engagethe blank on opposite sides of the blank axis with the working sectionsbeing spaced from the axis so that each will perform a working operationat a different radial position.

The single ring, double working arrangement has another highly desirableadvantage in that it lends itself for the working of tubes of a widevariety of diameters. The ring can be pivoted so that working sectionsmove equal distances closer to the blank Iaxis and thereby accommodate asmall diameter blank, or more away from the axis to accommodate alargediameter blank.

Typical equipment of the invention will be described below in connectionwith the following drawings, wherein:

FIGURE l is an elevational View of a tube forming machine embodying theinvention;

FIGURE 2 is a longitudinal, sectional view showing one form of theroller means;

FIGURE 3 is a cross section taken on the lines 3-3 of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 4 is a longitudinal, sectional view of another form of the rollermeans;

FIGURE 5 is a longitudinal section of a roller means of the kind shownin FIGURE 2, but with a different mounting arrangement; Y

FIGURE 6 is an end View of FIGURE 5;

FIGURE 7 is a cross section on the line 7-7 of FIG- URE 5;

FIGURE 8 is an elevational, sectional view of tube forming equipmentembodying another form of the roller means; v

FIGURE 9 is a plan view of FIGURE 8; and

wall of the blank Patented Oct. Y31, 1967 FIGURE 10 is a cross sectiontaken on the line 10-10 of FIGURE 8.

In FIGURE 1, I have shown a tube forming machine comprising a base 1,having at the right-hand end a head stock 2 carrying a rotatable chuck 3mounting a roller head 4. The roller head 4 supports roller meansgenerally indicated by 5. The blank B is pushed into the roller means 5and the rotating roller means works the blank B into the tubular form T.The head stock 2 is the open center type so as to accommodate the tubeT. The working may comprise a reducing operation where the is reduced inthickness or the working may be a squeezing operation where the diameterof the blank is changed so as to form a tapered blank or tube. In thepresent instance, the machine is set up for a wall reducing operation.

Toward the middle of the bed is a carriage 6 which mounts a blank B tobe worked. The carriage is movable along the bed so as to move the blankB into the roller head 4. The carriage 6 supports the blank so that itis non-rotatable. On the left-hand end a tail stock 7 mounts a mandrelsupport rod 10 which extends through the blank B and carries a mandrel11 at its outer end (FIGURE 2). As will be noted, the roller head 4 isof open-center construction so as to accommodate the blank B, themandrel 11 and the tube T. The chuck 3 is rotated and the carriage 6moved along the bed by conventional drive means.

In a machine of the kind described, the bed, head stock, chuck, carriageand tail stock are of conventional machine construction and thestructural details of the same will be well-understood by those skilledin the art.

Referring to FIGURES 2 and 3, it will be noted that the roller means 5includes a ring 12 which surrounds the blank and has a pair of annularworking sections 13 and 14. The sections 13 and 14 make a line contactwith the blank, which is concave with respect to the blank axis A-1, andengage the blank on opposite sides of the axis. The Working sections 13and 14 occupy different radial positions with respect to the blank axisA-l. In the instance shown, the working section 14 is at a greaterradial distance than the section 13. In this way the section 14 worksthe blank to reduce its wall thickness as indicated at 15, and thesection 13 works on the wall 15 to reduce the same in thickness or asindicated at 16. Also, the sections 13 and 14 are spaced from oneanother in a direction along the blank axis. The ring 12 is connectedwith the head by mounting mechanism 19 which includes the bearingstructure 20 connected with the shoes 21 and 22 respectively supportedin the circular tracks 23 and 24 in the head 4.

As will be apparent, the ring 12 is oriented so that its rotation(provided by bea-ring structure 20) relative to the head is about anaxis A-2 which makes an acute angle with the blank axis and lies in aplane containing the blank axis.

For a working operation, the carriage 6 pushes the blank to the rightinto engagement with the working sections 13 and 14 and the rotation ofthe head 4 and ring 12 causes each working section to progressivelyengage the blank along a helical path around the blank axis. Thereduction in wall thickness caused by the roller causes the blank toextrude away to the right into the form of the finished tube T.

The embodiment described not only has the advantage of a single ringperforming a dual working operation, but, in addition, the ring can beoriented in the head so as to move the working sections toward or awayfrom the blank axis and thereby accommodate tubes of diiferent sizes.This is done by pivoting the ring about the axis A-.3 (see FIGURE 3)which is normal to and intersects axis A-l.

The pivoting motion of the ring is provided by the travel of the shoes21 and 22 in the tracks 23 and 24. The means for moving the shoes alongthe tracks comprises (see FIGURE 3) worm Wheel 25 mounted on a shaft 26connected with the mounting mechanism 19, the wheel 25 being operated bya worm 30 connected with the head 4.

The embodiment shown in FIGURE is essentially the same as that describedin connection with FIGURE 2, except that the roller means and head areset up so that the roller means can be quickly replaced.

In FIGURE 5, the roller means includes the ring 31 having Workingsections 32 and 33. The mounting mechanism 34, which includes thebearing structure 35, rotatably mounts the ring on the head 36. The head36 has a at surface 46 and a keyway 41 is formed in the surface. Themounting mechanism has a flat surface 42 and a keyway 43. The keys 44and 45 are mounted in the ways. The screws 46 hold the surfaces 40 and42 in tight engagement.

The invention contemplates that the roller means cornprise a pair ofrings arranged so that the working forces balance one another. A typicalform for accomplishing the foregoing is shown in FIGURE 4 Where it willbe seen that the rings 50 and 51 are supported by the mounting mechanismwhich includes an annular frame 52 and bearing structure 53. The frame52 is adapted to be mounted in tracks, such as the tracks 23 and 24 inthe roller head 4. The ring 50 has a Working surface 54 and the ring 51has a working surface 55. The working surfaces 54 and 55 each occupy thesame radial distance from the blank axis A-4 and lie in the same radialplane. Thus, the working force of one section radially balances theworking force of the other section. The ring 50 is supported forrotation relative to the head about an axis A-S and the ring 51 issupported for rotation about axis A-6. The axes A-5 and A-6 lie in aplane containing axis A-4 and are spaced from one another in said plane.For purposes of clarity the mandrel 11 has not been shown in FIGURE 4.

In FIGURE 8, I have shown another arrangement foi using dual rings setup to impose radially balanced working loads. In FIGURE 8 theopen-center roller head 59 mounts rings 60 and 61 having Workingsurfaces 62 and 63 which are at the same radial distance from the blankaxis A-7 and lie in the same radial plane. rThe rings are supported inthe head by the mounting mechanism which includes the annular frames 64and 65, together with the bearing structure 66 and 67. The rings rotaterelative to the head about axes A-S and A-9 which lie in a planecontaining the blank axis A-7.

The embodiment in FIGURE 8 provides for adjusting the rings 60 and 61 ina radial direction so as to accommodate tubes of differing diameters.For this purpose, the mounting mechanism includes the shoes 70 and 71which tit into the dovetails 72 and 73 on the roller head 59. The ring65 has shoes 75 and 76 which fit into the dovetails 80 and 81 on theroller head. The shoe 72 carries a rack 82 and the shoe 75 carries arack 83. The rack is engaged by a pinion 84. By rotating the pinion, forexample, by the worm wheel arrangement 85 (FIG- URE the rings can bemoved toward and away from the blank axis.

In the embodiment of FIGURES 4 and 8, the rotation of the head and ringscauses each working section to progressively engage the blank along ahelical path around the blank axis.

I claim:

1. In a tube forming machine:

`means for supporting an elongated blank;

a roller head having an open-center configuration to accommodate theblank and a tube made therefrom;

means mounting said roller head for rotation about an taxis co-axialwith the axis of the blank;

means connected with the blank for moving the blank relative to the headin a direction along the blank axis;

roller means formed in the shape of an annulus disdisposed on said head,the roller means comprising a ring having a pair of annular workingsections surrounding said blank and making simultaneous engagement withthe outside of the blank respectively on yopposite sides of the blankaxis, the engagement areas of the working sections being differentradial distances from the blank axis and spaced from one another in adirection along the blank axis; and

mounting mechanism including means 4rotatably connecting said ring andits working Sections With the head for rotation relative to the headabout an axis making an acute angle with said blank axis and lying in aplane containing the blank axis, said blank axial motion, said headrotation and said working section rotation causing each said workingsection to progressively engage the blank along a helical path aroundthe blank axis.

2. In a tube forming machine:

means for supporting an elongated blank including a mandrel inside ofthe blank;

a roller head having an open-center configuration to accommodate themandrel, the blank and a tube made therefrom;

means mounting `said roller head for rotation about an axis co-axialwith the axis of the blank;

means connected with the blank for moving the blank relative to the headin a direction along the blank taxis;

roller means disposed on said head, the roller means comprising a ringhaving a pair of annular working sections surrounding said blank andmaking simultaneous engagement with the outside of the blankrespectively on opposite sides of the blank axis and radially outwardlyof the mandrel, the engagement areas of the working sections beingdifferent radial distances from the blank axis and spaced from oneanother in a direction along the blank axis; and

mounting mechanism including means rotatably connecting said ring andits Working sections with the head for rotation relative to the headabout an axis making an acute :angle with said blank axis and lying in aplane containing the blank axis, said blank axial motion, said headrotation and said working section rotation causing each said workingsection to progressively engage the blank along a helical path aroundthe blank axis.

3. A construction in accordance with claim 2 wherein said mountingmechanism further includes a connection with the head comprisin-garcuate track means and shoe means supported therein, drive means tomove the shoe means along the track means, the movement of the shoemeans along the track means causing said ring and its working sectionsto move about an axis intersecting and parallel to the blank axis.

4. A construction in accordance with claim 2 wherein said mountingmechanism further includes a connection with the head comprising a pairof flat mounting surfaces, keyways in the head and on the mountingmechanisrn and a key in the keyways and means holding the surfaces intight engagement.

5. In a tube forming machine:

means for supporting an elongated blank;

a roller head having an open-center configuration to accommodate theblank and a tube made therefrom;

means mounting said roller head for rotation about an axis co-axial withthe axis of the blank;

means connected with the blank for moving the blank relative to the headin a direction along the blank axis;

roller means disposed on said head, the roller means comprising a pairof rings each having an annular working section surrounding said blank,the working sections making simultaneous engagement with the outside ofthe blank respectively on opposite sides of the lblank axis, theengagement areas of the working sections being the same radial distancefrom the blank axis and lying in the same r-adial plane so that theworking force of one section radially balances the working force of theother section;

mounting mechanism for said Aroller means including a pair of annularframes respectively rotatably supporting said rings and connecting therings with the head for rotation therewith and for rotation of the ringsrelative to the head about axes respectively making an acute angle withsaid blank 'axis and lying in a plane cont-aining the blank axis, theaxes 'being spaced from one another in said axial plane, said blankaxial motion, said head rotation and said working section rotationcausing each said working section to progressively engage the -blankalong a helical path around the blank axis; and

means in the mounting mechanism and connected with said fnames formoving the frames in a direction norm-al to said blank axis.

6. In a tube forming machine:

means for supporting an elongated blank including a mandrel inside ofthe blank;

a roller head having an open-center configuration to accommodate themandrel, the blank 1and a tube made therefrom;

means mounting said roller head for rotation about an axis co-axial withthe axis of the blank;

means connected With the blank for moving the blank relative to the-head in a direction along the blank axls;

roller means disposed on said head, the roller means comprising a pairof rings each having an annular working section surrounding said blank,the working section making simultaneous engagement with the outside ofthe Iblank respectively on opposite sides of the blank axis and radiallyoutwardly of the mandrel, the engagement areas of the working sectionsbeing the same radial distance from the blank axis and lying in the sameradial plane so that the working force of one section radially balancesthe working force of the other section;

mounting mechanism for said roller means including a pair of annularframes respectively rotatably supporting said rings and connecting therings with the head for rotation therewith and for rotation of the rings`relative to the head about laxes respectively making an acute anglewith said blank axis and lying in a plane containing the blank axis, theaxes 'being spaced from one ranother in said axial plane, said blankaxial motion, said head rotation and said working section rotationcausing each said working section to progressively engage the blankalong a helical path around the blank axis; and

means on the mounting mechanism and connected with said frames formoving the frames in a direction normal to said blank axis.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,067,806 7/ 1913 Diescher 72-963,098,461 7/1963 Kinney 72-85 3,182,475 5/ 1965 YDillin-g 72-96 RICHARDI. HERBST, Primary Examiner.

1. IN A TUBE FORMING MACHINE: MEANS FOR SUPPORTING AN ELONGATED BLANK; AROLLER HEAD HAVING AN OPEN-CENTER CONFIGURATION TO ACCOMMODATE THE BLANKAND A TUBE MADE THEREFROM; MEANS MOUNTING SAID ROLLER HEAD FOR ROTATIONABOUT AN AXIS CO-AXIAL WITH THE AXIS OF THE BLANK; MEANS CONNECTED WITHTHE BLANK FOR MOVING THE BLANK RELATIVE TO THE HEAD IN A DIRECTION ALONGTHE BLANK AXIS; ROLLER MEANS FORMED IN THE SHAPE OF AN ANNULUSDISDISPOSED ON SAID HEAD, THE ROLLER MEANS COMPRISING A RING HAVING APAIR OF ANNULAR WORKING SECTIONS SURROUNDING SAID BLANK AND MAKINGSIMULTANEOUS ENGAGEMENT WITH THE OUTSIDE OF THE BLANK RESPECTIVELY ONOPPOSITE SIDES OF THE BLANK AXIS, THE ENGAGEMENT AREAS OF THE WORKINGSECTIONS BEING DIFFERENT RADIAL DISTANCES FROM THE BLANK AXIS AND SPACEDFROM ONE ANOTHER IN A DIRECTION ALONG THE BLANK AXIS; AND MOUNTINGMECHANISM INCLUDING MEANS ROTATABLY CONNECTING SAID RING AND ITS WORKINGSECTIONS WITH THE HEAD FOR ROTATION RELATIVE TO THE HEAD ABOUT AN AXISMAKING AN ACUTE ANGLE WITH SAID BLANK AXIS AND LYING IN A PLANECONTAINING THE BLANK AXIS, SAID BLANK AXIAL MOTION, SAID HEAD ROTATIONAND SAID WORKING SECTION ROTATION CAUSING EACH SAID WORKING SECTION TOPROGRESSIVELY ENGAGE THE BLANK ALONG A HELICAL PATH AROUND THE BLANKAXIS.